The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-31
Explorations in Greenland.

It was the 30th of May before we
sighted the coast, which appeared at
(irst as % long low line of sparkling
points. Masses of heavy clouds con-
cealed the submits, but as we APP
preached, the panorama was fradually
unfolded, the clouds lifted revealing an
endless array of peaks, counterparts in
form of many of the most famous noun
tains in the Alps, loaded with snow and
glaciers. At this time we were little
south of Holsteinberg, in latitude &c
degrees, and next morning, when some
thirty miles further north the character
of the coast changed, the mountains
dwindled down to low hills, and they
retained that character for seventy
miles, exhibiting the unmistakable char
acteristics Of ice eroded surfaces.
Rounded bosses were seen everywhere;
the tops of the hills were clean gone,
and convex curves took the place OF
craggy forms which were seen to the
south.
Six weeks elapsed since leaving CO.
oenhagen before we arrived at Egedes-
minde, a settlement on the south ofDis-
ko Bay, into which we were obliged to
put until Jacobshavn harbor should be
clear of ice--a dismal place at that time
for every soul, Greenlanders, Danes and
all. had a cough. Though it was now
getting we'll into June, almost the whole
island on which tho settlement was
placed was covered with snow, and
belt of sea fretted ice was fixed all along
tho shore just above high water mark.
Here became familiarized with Green
land currency and learned the values OF
tho coins in circulation, which were
mostly skillings and half skillings, equal
respectively TO about English farthings
and half farthings. Silver was rarely
seen and gold never. the higher values
being represented by bank notes dwarf
GUS amounts, which were often in an
indescribable state Of grease and dilapi'
dalton.
Thus far we had not had any prospect
over the island ice, such glimpses as had
been obtained having been in vistas clos
ing the ends of valleys, or through oc-
casional openings between o couple OF
peaks; and to gain better general idea
Of its nature, before proceeding, l as
cendod an isolated hill on the west mar
gin which commanded very extensive
view. The morning was still md the
sky cloudless; and as l gradually rose
above the level of the island ice | saw
that there were the usual banks of old
now from last Winter extending all
round the margin where il abutted upon
The exterior land, and then came round
ed, dome like slopes of hard ice, such
As are common at the termination OF
most glaciers, containing numerous
,revasses. This hard ice extended only
few hundred yards eastward, and then
become snow covered. Beyond there
was scarcely sign Of crevass, and q
mantel of pure, unsullied snow
stretched east, north and south, as far
As the eve could see, covering every
thing completely. How far our night
extended none could say, for no one,
however experienced with snow and ice,
San Judge distance with accuracy on q
snow field which has no marks upon it.
To the north and south the mountains
around the margin of the island ice
showed that the prospect was immense,
but they gave no clue as to the distance
seen TO the east.
The nature Of this view was most
agreeable surprise, for had never con-
iectured that the conditions would he
so easy, or that it would be possible TO
no with such an absolutely complete
afacement ESQ TO speak, Of all the land
features Of continent, unlike anything
known elsewhere. There were undula-
lions, but no declivities, and there were
slopes, but not single peak, nor, ex-
cepting at the very margin where there
we're ANAL boulders from the contingent